2005 Football League Two play-off final

Association football match November 2017 November 2017 2005 Football League Two play-off final Principality Stadium May 3, 2016.jpg The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff Southend United 2 Lincoln City 0 28 May 2005 Millennium Stadium Cardiff Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire) 19,653 2004 2006 The 2005 Football League Two play-off final was an association football match played on 28 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Southend United and Lincoln City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from Football League Two, English football's fourth tier, to Football League One. The top three teams of the 2004–05 Football League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2005–06 season in League One. Southend United finished in fourth place while Lincoln City ended the season in sixth position. They defeated Northampton Town and Macclesfield Town, respectively, in the semi-finals. The match was refereed by Martin Atkinson in front of 19,653 spectators. The first 90 minutes finished goalless, and was described by Jamie Jackson in The Observer as "tepid, uninventive fare", so the game went into extra time. The first goal was scored just before half-time in the first period of extra time, when Spencer Prior flicked on Nicky Nicolau's corner and Freddy Eastwood struck Matt Bloomer's clearance into the Lincoln goal. With ten minutes of extra time remaining, Eastwood ran at the Lincoln defence and passed the ball square to Duncan Jupp who scored his first league goal in a decade to give Southend a 2–0 lead. No further goals were scored, securing Southend a 2–0 win and promotion to League One. Lincoln City ended their following season in seventh position in League Two and qualified for the play-offs where they lost 3–1 on aggregate to Grimsby Town in the semi-final. Southend United secured back-to-back promotions when they finished the following season as champions of League One. Route to the final 2004–05 Football League main WDL Q right auto Football League Two final table, leading positions YEO Yeovil Town SCU Scunthorpe United SWA Swansea City STD Southend United MAC Macclesfield Town LIN Lincoln City NOR Northampton Town 25 8 13 90 65 22 14 10 69 42 24 8 14 62 43 22 12 12 65 46 22 9 15 60 49 20 12 14 64 47 20 12 14 62 51 complete https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2004-2005/regular-season/r832/ Soccerway 9 March 2021 League Two – 2004/2005 – Regular season Perform Group 19 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160819041549/http://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2004-2005/regular-season/r832/ live Southend United finished the regular 2004–05 season in fourth place in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, two places ahead of Lincoln City. Both therefore missed out on the three automatic places for promotion to Football League One and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the fourth promoted team. Southend United finished two points behind Swansea City and Scunthorpe United (who were promoted in third and second place respectively, the latter having superior goal difference) and five behind league winners Yeovil Town. Lincoln City ended the season six points behind Southend United. Lincoln City's opposition for their play-off semi-final was Macclesfield Town and the first match of the two-legged tie took place at Sincil Bank in Lincoln on 14 May 2005. Gareth McAuley scored in the 11th minute when he headed a free kick from Kevin Sandwith into the Macclesfield goal. Although Lincoln dominated the second half, they failed to increase their lead and the match ended 1–0. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4536901.stm 10 March 2021 14 May 2005 Lincoln 1–0 Macclesfield BBC Sport 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062622/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v5.js live The second leg of the semi-final was held a week later at Moss Rose in Macclesfield. Once again, McAuley gave Lincoln an early lead, scoring with a header in the 15th minute. Paul Harsley equalised for Macclesfield in the 76th minute with a shot on the turn but the match ended 1–1 and Lincoln progressed to the final with a 2–1 aggregate victory. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4537135.stm Macc'field 1–1 Lincoln (agg 1–2) BBC Sport 10 March 2021 21 May 2005 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062630/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v5.js live Southend United faced Northampton Town in the second semi-final with the first leg hosted at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton on 15 May 2005. Both sides had chances to score and although the visitors were more dominant, the match ended 0–0. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4537159.stm BBC Sport 10 March 2021 15 May 2005 Northampton 0–0 Southend 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062621/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v5.js live The second leg took place six days later at Roots Hall in Southend-on-Sea. The first half ended 0–0 but four minutes into the second, Nicky Nicolau was fouled in the Northampton penalty area and Freddy Eastwood converted the resulting penalty. It gave Southend a 1–0 victory both in the match and on aggregate, and they qualified for the final. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4537165.stm Southend 1–0 N'hampton (agg 1–0) BBC Sport 10 March 2021 21 May 2005 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062623/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v5.js live Match Background It was Southend United's first appearance in the play-offs. They had played in the third tier of English football since they were relegated at the end of the 1997–98 season. https://fchd.info/SOUTHENU.HTM Football Club History Database 10 March 2021 Southend United 10 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200810211934/http://fchd.info/SOUTHENU.HTM live This was their second visit to the Millennium Stadium of the season, having played in the Football League Trophy Final the month before where they lost 2–0 to Wrexham. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/apr/11/match.sport5 The Guardian 10 March 2021 Wrexham see silver lining in first prize Grahame Lloyd 11 April 2005 6 April 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170406050430/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/apr/11/match.sport5 live Lincoln City were making their third consecutive appearance in the play-offs, having lost 5–2 against Bournemouth in the 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final and failing to progress past the semi-final in the 2004 play-offs. They had played in the third tier since being relegated in the 1998–99 season. https://www.fchd.info/LINCOLNC.HTM Football Club History Database 10 March 2021 Lincoln City 3 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200803084120/http://www.fchd.info/LINCOLNC.HTM live Both matches between the sides during the regular season ended in 1–1 draws, first at Sincil Bank in August 2004, and again at Roots Hall the following March. https://www.11v11.com/teams/southend-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Lincoln%20City/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 10 March 2021 Southend United football club: record v Lincoln City 22 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022184610/https://www.11v11.com/teams/southend-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Lincoln%20City/ live Simon Yeo was Lincoln City's top scorer with 23 goals in the regular season (21 in the league, 2 in the League Cup) followed by Gary Taylor-Fletcher with 11 (10 in the league, 1 in the League Cup). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1559&teamTabs=stats&season_id=134 Soccerbase Centurycomm 10 March 2021 Lincoln squad details – 2004/05 – Player appearances 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062618/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1559&teamTabs=stats&season_id=134 live Eastwood led the scoring for Southend United with 19 goals (all in the league) while both Adam Barrett and Wayne Gray had 11 (all in the league). https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2393&teamTabs=stats&season_id=134 Soccerbase Centurycomm 10 March 2021 Southend squad details – 2004/05 – Player appearances 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062618/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2393&teamTabs=stats&season_id=134 live The referee for the match was Martin Atkinson from Yorkshire. Southend adopted a 4–4–2 formation and Lincoln played as a 3–4–3. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0502758459/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=61748884 Gale Eastwood's Star Rising 30 May 2005 10 March 2021 The Times Gary Jacob 112 subscription Summary The match kicked off around 3p.m. on 28 May 2005 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 19,653 spectators. https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-southend-united-28-may-2005-197777/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 9 March 2021 Lincoln City v Southend United, 28 May 2005 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062620/https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-southend-united-28-may-2005-197777/ live The match was an even affair during the first half: early on, Francis Green's header for Lincoln was off-target, and the team then saw a goal from Yeo ruled out. Southend had two goal-bound chances cleared as the Lincoln goalkeeper Alan Marriott saved shots from both Carl Pettefer and Mark Bentley. Southend dominated the second half, with Eastwood creating the best chance in the 56th minute but falling over the ball with only Marriott to beat from around 8 yd off. Green then blocked a shot from Southend's Che Wilson before Bentley was denied a penalty after Paul Morgan appeared to foul him. Regular time ended goalless, sending the match into extra time. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A132831521/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=5dc454a8 Gale 10 March 2021 Eastwood hangs Lincoln high Trevor Haylett 30 May 2005 The Daily Telegraph subscription 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062621/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA132831521&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=5dc454a8 live Jamie Jackson, writing in The Observer, described the first 90 minutes of the match as "tepid, uninventive fare". https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A132834810/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=STND&xid=5f41636c Gale 10 March 2021 Tilson tastes glory at third attempt Jamie Jackson 29 May 2005 The Observer 7 subscription 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062621/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA132834810&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=5f41636c live The first goal was scored just before half-time in the first period of extra time. Spencer Prior flicked on Nicolau's corner and Eastwood struck Matt Bloomer's clearance into the Lincoln goal to make it 1–0. With ten minutes of extra time remaining, Eastwood ran at the Lincoln defence and passed the ball square to Duncan Jupp who scored his first league goal in a decade to give Southend a 2–0 lead. With no further additions to the scoreline, the match ended 2–0 and Southend secured promotion to League One. Details 28 May 2005 15:00 BST Southend United 2–0 Lincoln City https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4573787.stm Lincoln City 0–2 Southend United 28 May 2005 10 March 2021 BBC Sport Eastwood 105Jupp 110 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 19,653 Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire) FFFFFF 111347 FFFFFF FFFFFF 111347 Southend United right _whitestripes FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 Lincoln City GK 13 Darryl FlahavanRB 2 Duncan JuppCB 15 Spencer PriorCB 6 Adam BarrettLB 18 Che WilsonRM 10 Carl PetteferCM 8 Kevin Maher (c)CM 9 Mark Bentley 29LM 3Nicky Nicolau 119FW 23 Freddy Eastwood 118FW 14Wayne Gray 81Substitutes:GK 1Bart GrieminkDF 5Andy Edwards 118MF 7Mark Gower 119MF 29Luke GuttridgeFW 11Lawrie Dudfield 81Manager:Steve Tilson GK 1 Alan MarriottWB 17 Gareth McAuleyCB 23 Jamie McCombeCB 5 Paul Morgan (c)CB 4 Ben Futcher 120WB 3 Kevin SandwithCM 8 Richard ButcherCM 11 Peter GainFW 27Gary Taylor-Fletcher 94FW 9 Simon Yeo 90FW 30Francis Green 105Substitutes:GK 13Simon RaynerDF 2Lee Beevers 105DF 14Matt Bloomer 94MF 16Ritchie HanlonFW 7Derek Asamoah 90Manager:Keith Alexander Post-match Steve Tilson, the winning manager, praised his side's resilience: "After not getting automatic promotion, to bounce back and win today was a great achievement... I thought we were worthy winners in the end." https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/4586117.stm BBC Sport 10 March 2021 Tilson hails spirited performance 28 May 2005 18 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210318062623/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/v5.js live His counterpart Keith Alexander suggested that his team needed to be improved: "We have to go out and get a better team... I've got to get better players and we have to go up from the top three." https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/4586087.stm BBC Sport 10 March 2021 Alexander plans Lincoln changes 28 May 2005 Lincoln City ended their following season in seventh position in League Two and qualified for the play-offs where they lost 3–1 on aggregate to Grimsby Town in the semi-final. https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4771787.stm Grimsby 2–1 Lincoln (agg 3–1) BBC Sport 10 March 2021 16 May 2006 https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2005-2006/regular-season/r2153/ Soccerway 10 March 2021 League Two – 2005/2006 – Regular season Perform Group 15 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190215174302/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-two/2005-2006/regular-season/r2153/ live Southend United finished the following season as champions of League One, securing back-to-back promotions, to participate in the Championship for the 2006–07 season. https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2005-2006/regular-season/r2152/ Soccerway 10 March 2021 League One – 2005/2006 – Regular season Perform Group 18 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210218201317/https://uk.soccerway.com/national/england/league-one/2005-2006/regular-season/r2152/ live References Category:EFL League Two play-off finals Play-off Final 2005 Play-off Final 2005 3 play-off final Football League Two play-off final Category:Football finals in Wales